Proxima Centauri is about 4.2 light-years away from the Earth and is the closest star to us besides the Sun. Astronomers claimed to have discovered a planet in Proxima Centauri in 2016 with an orbital period of about 11 days called "Proxima Centauri b". This discovery was finally confirmed at the end of May this year, making Proxima Centauri b the closest known exoplanet.

Just a few days after the confirmation of Proxima Centauri b, astronomers announced there is another planet orbiting Proxima Centauri. In early 2020, astronomers had already wondered the existence of a planet with an orbital period of more than 5 years around Proxima Centauri. Later, another group of astronomers reviewed some data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope over the past 25 years and confirmed that there is a planet revolving around Proxima Centauri with an orbital period of 1,907 days, and hence named it as "Proxima Centauri c".

Being the closest exoplanets to the Earth, we do want to know if aliens exist or not. Preliminary speaking, among thousands of known exoplanets, both Proxima Centauri b and Proxima Centauri c are not a candidate for being habitable. However, these discoveries tell us, the number of planets outside the solar system is not a few, maybe we can find a planet like the Earth not far away (is 4 light-years far?). Let's wait and see!

More information: https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/news/releases/20200602